Movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been arrested and charged with rape, committing a criminal sex act, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct, according to the New York Police Department, after turning himself into the police this morning.

25th May 2018
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By Andrew Wooding

GETTY/STEVENFERDMAN

Weinstein, 66, known for films including Shakespeare In Love and a string of Quentin Tarantino films, entered the New York police through crowds of reporters and photographers.

The producer was disgraced in October after a string of sexual abuse allegations were revealed in exposés worked on by The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Over 80 women made dozens of allegations against Weinstein and he was subsequently dismissed from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, suspended from BAFTA as well as being left by his wife Georgina Chapman.

Weinstein left the NYPD precinct handcuffed and entered a black SUV.

He is being charged with two counts of rape and one count of a criminal sexual act for crimes that took place between 2004 and 2013.

"This defendant used his position, money and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually," said prosecutor Joan Illuzzi in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex.

Earlier this week, Benjamin Brafman (Weinstein's criminal defence attorney) described Weinstein as "lonely and angry" in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.

Weinstein is also being investigated for sex crimes in Los Angeles and London, UK.

The producer's downfall – along with allegations aimed at Kevin Spacey and a string of other entertainment professionals – sparked the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements.

The shocking scale of sexual misconduct in showbusiness has led to positive progress in how the industry deals with inappropriate behaviour, including a behaviour code being implemented by the Royal Court Theatre Artistic Director.